The Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court today extended the remand on two “datuks” in MACC’s investigation into the Penang undersea tunnel project for another five days.

The duo are a senior executive director of a company aged 59 and a property development company chairman aged 50.

The men were detained separately, here and Penang on Jan 9 and remanded for six days on Jan 10 by the Putrajaya magistrate’s court and George Town Magistrate’s Court in raids conducted by MACC.

The commission swooped on a number of state government offices at Komtar, Penang and certain companies following a report lodged by Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Huan Cheng Guan.

The agency was also reported to have raided the Public Works Department in Sungai Pinang, Penang State Secretary’s office, Land and Mines office, and Valuation and Property Management Department at Komtar.

On Jan 5, Huan lodged a police report and handed over allegedly new evidence to MACC of power abuse and corruption related to the tender of the project worth RM15 billion.

The 7.2-kilometre undersea tunnel project linking Persiaran Gurney to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai, and three major roads was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction, which consists of several companies.

The project has been bugged by various controversies, such as the allegedly excessive cost of the feasibility studies and the suspicious nature of payment in the state land takeover, besides objections from residents who were worried about its economic, social and environmental impact.

- Bernama